Arm rest massage feature for whirlpool tubs

ABSTRACT

A bathing device preferably includes at least one armrest, a seat and a wall connecting the armrest to the seat. The wall preferably defines an undercut arrangement that increases a volume of the bathing device below the armrest to provide additional space for a bather while the bather is seated. The armrest is positioned at a height to support an arm of the bather and preferably defines one or more air and/or fluid emitting orifi that direct a flow of pressurized fluid (e.g., water) and/or air onto a hand, finger, and/or forearm of the bather. The bathing device may be a bath tub, hot tub, spa, whirlpool, or pool and may have various jets or other fluid emitting features for conducting fluid and/or air to give the user pleasure or relief from pain. The bathing device may also be sized and shaped to accommodate multiple bathers simultaneously.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. application Ser.No. 11/034,433 filed Jan. 12, 2005, which is a continuation ofco-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/060,088 filed Jan. 30, 2002, andhereby claims priority upon such co-pending applications under 35 U.S.C.§ 120.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to bathing devices and theirproduction.

More specifically, this invention relates to a novel form of bathingdevice, and, in particular, to a whirlpool tub having at least onearmrest with air and/or water therapy jets on an upper armrest surface.The armrests may also be undercut so as to maximize the seating volumewithin the tub.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

It is well-known in the art that tubs can be created with recirculatinghot water emitted through orifices and jets under pressure. These tubsgo by various names which may be distinguished on the basis of design orfunction or otherwise by those of ordinary skill in the art. Commonnames are hot-tub, spa, and whirlpool bath.

The therapeutic advantage achieved by the use of a stream of waterexpelled under pressure from a jet in a whirlpool tub or the like, aswell as from air emitted through orifices in the tub are well known.However, it has not been heretofore proposed to place such jets ororifices in an armrest on the surface that the bather can rest his orher forearm, wrist and/or hands.

In conventional tubs, often made of plastic or metal, either no armrestsare included or whatever armrests that are provided are limited. Thisresults from disadvantages of standard and common molding techniques.Presently, to accomplish de-molding, that is, removal of the tub fromthe mold, the tub must be made so that the smallest part of the tub isat the bottom and the tub must be made progressively larger from bottomto top. The terms “draft” and “leave” are used in arts such asmetallurgy to describe the slight taper imparted to a molded object topermit removal of the object from the mold without damaging the mold.Present methods, because they depend on one-piece molding design,prevent creating molds in which any part of the tub is narrower than anypart below it. As a result of the limitations on molds, present tubs donot have undercut armrests integral with the tub. Any armrests come atthe expense of the seating area because, as noted above, no part of thetub can be wider than any part above it. Whatever space is taken byintegral armrests comes at the sacrifice of seating space.

Conventional tubs may have armrests added after freeing the tub from themold or by using some secondary manufacturing technique. Conventionalmethods must overcome the problem of leaking which results from add-oncomponents which are attached by some method requiring breaching thewatertight integrity of the tub. Over time, multipart tubs spring leaksaround joints. Often, added components take up valuable space intendedfor seating or for feet and legs. A reduced seating area, in turn,limits mounting of additional therapeutic devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, a principle of this invention to provide a whirlpooltub or similar device having armrests with therapeutic air and/or waterorifices and/or jets disposed therein to expose the user to thetherapeutic benefits of air and/or water under pressure. Thecontemplated invention includes armrests which protrude from at leastone exterior wall of the tub and either terminate in a substantiallyvertical wall ending at the tub bottom or seating surface, or whichtaper into the side wall in a so-called “undercut” arrangement so as toopen up a volume for the user's lower body to have additional room. Inthe embodiment having an undercut armrest, by extending and protrudingthe armrest and by opening up a volume below the armrest, greatercomfort, space and room is afforded the bather using the tub.

By providing removable mold components, these armrest features can beformed or cast into the finished goods at molding time. By followingthis technique and techniques well-known to those of ordinary skill inthe art, greater comfort is afforded the bather. One reason for thisgreater comfort is that, in freeing the manufacturing process from theneed for drafting, the bottom and seating area can be made wider thanparts above them. This allows for greater foot, leg, and posterior room.At the same time, the armrests provide greater comfort by giving thebather something to rest upon.

The invention preferably includes air bubbling orifi known to the art onthe upwardly facing armrest surface of the armrest.

The invention may also include fluid (e.g., water) jets to direct theflow of water or other fluid either upwardly out of the upwardly facingarmrest surface or generally horizontally out of a forward facingsurface of the armrest. Such jets are well-known to those of ordinaryskill in the art and may include a variety of features such asdirectional and flow rate adjustability. A common form of these movablejets has a cylindrical base portion which can be inserted into anorifice in an armrest. Water flows through the cylindrical base portionand from there through a jet or nozzle. The cylindrical base portion canbe turned about the linear axis of the cylinder. Directionallyadjustable jets can be angled through a wide range of angles, usuallyaround 150 degrees, although with some designs ranges of motion canexceed 180 degrees. By moving the cylindrical base portion and changingthe jet angle, the flow of water can be directed wherever the userdesires. In some forms of the jets, a ring around the cylindricalportion can be loosened or tightened. This loosening or tighteningvaries the effective size of the jet nozzle and, through principles wellknown to physics, i.e., Bernoulli's Principle, varies the pressure andvolume of the water inversely.

One advantage of the invention is that the tub provides for greatercomfort for one or more bathers.

An additional advantage of the invention is that the tub is sufficientlylarge to hold at least one bather, has a bottom, has an approximatelyhorizontal surface above the bottom of the tub upon which the bather cansit, has at least one armrest to support an arm of the bather, and hasat least one orifice for conducting water under pressure onto some bodypart or parts of the bather, thereby giving the bather a massage whichcan prove pleasurable as well as therapeutic. By combining single-userseating areas, tubs capable of holding any number of bathers can becreated. Three or four bather tubs are quite common. The techniques forstringing single-user seating areas into multiple-user tubs arewell-known within the art.

Another advantage of the invention is that the tub can be a hot tub,spa, whirlpool bath, or pool.

A further advantage of the invention is that the tub can have a controlunit which can control the temperature, pressure, and timing of the flowof water. Control units with these functions are commodities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front cross-sectional elevational view of one seating areaof a bathing device in accordance with this Invention with a batherseated therein.

FIG. 2 is a top view of one seating area of a bathing device inaccordance with this Invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a bathing device which shows a portion of thearmrests with therapeutic devices installed herein.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a tub in accordance with this Invention withmultiple seating areas.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectioned elevation view of an armrest portion of atub employing my invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While this specification concludes with claims defining the features ofthe invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that theinvention will be better understood from a consideration of thefollowing description in conjunction with the drawing figures.Variations between and among the figures reveal different embodiments.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates one section of a tub110 in use wherein 110 is the shell of the tub, [[and]] 120 is anarmrest molded into the tub 110 and 118 is an upper peripheral edge ofthe shell 110. The user is shown resting one arm on each armrest 120. Itwill be noted that there are armrests 120 on either side of the user.The left armrest 120L and right armrest 120R illustrated in thisembodiment are mirror images of one another. In alternate embodiments,the left and right armrests might be different from one another or onlyone armrest may be used. For purposes of this description, only thearmrest 120 on the user's right side is described. However, all thatapplies to the right side armrest 120R applies as well to the left sidearmrest 120L.

The tub 110 may be described as being made up of left and right sidewallside portions 114, 116 respectively, the rear sidewall 122 and frontsidewall (not shown).

It is not necessary that the user rest either or both arms on thearmrests 120 for the tub 110 to be effective. However, resting one orboth arms on the armrests 120 can provide additional therapeuticbenefits to the hands, fingers, and forearms rested on the armrests 120.The upright seating position of the user is just one of many ways theuser can gain benefit. The user may select any body position which theuser finds comfortable or therapeutic. In addition, the tubs whichemploy this invention may take any form, so long as they have armrestswith air and/or water therapy features.

The armrests 120 are undercut at 135 to expand the seating area 140available to the user. Inside the curve forming the armrest 120 is aduct 130 for carrying water under pressure. This duct 130 can be tubingor any other effective means for carrying water, which means arewell-known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In FIG. 4, multipleseating areas are shown. FIG. 4 shows that tubing 130 can be routed toprovide for continuous flow of water through the tub 110.

The user is seated on a horizontal or nearly horizontal surface or seat140. This surface can be flat or can be curved to fit the body contoursof users. For some users, curving gives additional comfort. Seat 140connects to left and right sidewall side portions 114, 116 atcorresponding junctures 124, 126. Armrests 120L, 120R each define inneredges 121L, 121R which, as can be seen, are closer to each other thanthe distance between seat attachment junctures 124, 126. In this way, aspreviously stated, the undercut 135 provides an expanded seating spacepermitting the bather more room and, hence, comfort within the tub.

Orifices 150 are shown in the armrest 120. These orifices 150 permit airto flow under pressure from the duct 130 so that, if the user positionshis or her body in certain ways, the air bubbles will be emitted ontothe user's hands, fingers, or forearms. This provides a soothing andtherapeutic massage to the user.

A wall portion extending from the seating area 140 to the floor 170 isshown at 160. Additional orifices 165 are built into the wall 160. Thewall 160 need not be vertical and may be sloped from the vertical tomeet the needs of users and to provide additional comfort and can bedrafted. The floor 170 of the tub 110 is the lowest part. In a preferredembodiment of a complete tub, the floor extends between and among allthe seating areas 140 and forms part of the watertight integrity of thetub 110. The bottom may have a drain or there may be a drain in anotherpart of the tub. These drains are not illustrated. A handle 180 givesthe user something to grasp when entering or exiting the tub.

A control unit 190 gives the user the ability to set a desired watertemperature and/or air and water flow rates. The control unit 190 mayhave a timer which will shut off the flow of air or water after adesired period of time.

FIG. 2 shows a view of a seating area in an embodiment slightlydifferent from that shown in FIG. 1. The tub itself is shown as 210.This embodiment has built-in headrests 220 to add to user comfort.Orifices 230 direct water under pressure onto the user's body parts. Ifthe user is seated as in FIG. 1, the water from these orifices 230provides a soothing back massage. Here, two columns of orifices 230 areshown, but there can be any number of orifices 230 and these orifices230 can be of any size. The seat 240 is shown flat, but the seat 240could be given almost any contour consistent with comfort of the user.Seat 240 is integrally connected to left and right sidewall sideportions 214, 216 along junctures 224, 226. Orifices 250 in the seat 240permit air under pressure to be emitted at the user providing soothingmassage or therapy to the user's back. The two armrests 260R and 260Lare shown with air orifices 270 which provide air under pressure to theuser's hands, fingers, and forearms depending on how the user ispositioned. Armrests 260L, 260R respectively define inward facingarmrest edges 221L, 221R.

The control unit 280 conforms to the same description as that of controlunit 190.

FIG. 3 shows one seating area of a tub 310 having orifices 320. Armrestsleft and right 330L and 330R with enclosed ducts 340 give the user aplace for resting arms and permit water under pressure to be forced ontothe user's fingers, hands, or forearms depending on how the user ispositioned. The seat is shown at 350 and the bottom at 360. In thisembodiment, no orifices are shown on the vertical or nearly verticalwall between the seat 350 and floor 360. Tub 310 is comprised of leftand right sidewall side portions 314, 316, a rear wall 322, a front wall(not shown), and an upper peripheral edge 318. Armrests 330L, 330Rdefine inner edges 331L, 331R, respectively. Seat 250 is connected toleft and right sidewall side portions 314, 316 at seat connectionjunctures 324, 326 respectively. As with the tubs shown in FIGS. 1 and2, inner edges 331L, 331R are closer together than seat connectionjunctures 324, 326, thereby forming an undercut area 335 under armrests330L, 330R which provides the bather additional space for bathing.

FIG. 4 shows a tub 410 with three seating areas 420. All parts thereofare shown in other figures. The significance of this embodiment is thatsingle-seating areas are shown joined so that the water flows throughthe ducts 440 in a continuous path. Water escapes the ducts 440 throughthe orifices such as those specified for FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.

FIG. 5 shows a detail of one embodiment of an armrest 260 and a jet 263.The jet 263 has a nozzle 520 and a body 530. Jets are commodities. Jetsare fitted into orifices and vary pressure and volume of water flowaccording to well-known principles of physics. Armrest 260 defines ahand or finger grip 275 at the forward end thereof, which enables abather to grasp the hand grip 275 to stabilize the bather while movinginto and out of the tub and while sitting and moving within the tub.

In all embodiments of the invention, water is forced under pressurethrough tubing or ducts or other passages through outlets such as jets.The water then returns to the lower area of the tub where it is againforced under pressure through tubing or ducts or other passages throughorifices so long as the system is turned on. There are many ways wellknown to persons of ordinary skill in the art of forcing water to flowunder pressure. Those ways are not a part of the invention and areomitted here. These ways could include a gravity fed water tower, pumps,downhill flow, or even simply using city water pressure if such pressureis sufficient for the user's purposes. Commonly, the user fills the tubfrom a standard waters supply and pumps, then recirculates the water inthe tub through the various conduits and jets/orifices.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional elevational view of a portion of a tub andarmrest having one or more air orifices 270 and at least one water jet263 which discharges water at a therapeutic flow rate through an openingin substantially vertical side wall 262 of armrest 260. The upperarmrest surface 264 of armrest 260 defines openings 265 therein. The airjets 270 receive a supply of air via any suitable means such as conduits266, and the water jet 263 receives a flow of forced water throughconduit 267 or any other suitable means. The flow of water emitted outof water jet 263 may be aerated via any suitable means such as an airintake 282 having a check valve 284 associated with an upper openingthereof. Water flowing through a narrowing section (not shown) of jet263, by virtue of the lower pressure therein, draws air through intake282 from within the confines of the tub body into the flow of water.

Alternatively, armrest 260 may be provided with air jets 270 only, suchthat water jet 263 is omitted. Conversely, armrest 260 may be providedwith a water jet 263 only, either in the side wall 262 or the armrestsurface 264. Any combination of air and/or water jets at any positionson armrest 260 is contemplated to be within the scope of my invention,since it has not been heretofore proposed to provide armrests in tubs ofthis nature having water and/or air therapy features incorporatedtherein.

Various modifications and alterations of this inventions will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scopeand spirit of this invention, and it is understood that this inventionis not limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth hereinbefore.

1. A water tight bathing tub comprising: a generally vertical sidewallof generally consistent height terminating in an upper peripheral edge,the tub defining a watertight volume which can be filled with water forbathing; the sidewall comprised of a front sidewall portion, and rearsidewall portion, a first sidewall side portion and a second sidewallside portion, the first and second sidewall side portions beingsubstantially mirror images of each other and each extending between thefront sidewall portion and the second sidewall portion; a first arm restconnected to the first sidewall side portion; a second arm restconnected to the second sidewall side portion opposite the first armrest; the first arm rest defining a first arm rest inner edge; thesecond arm rest defining a second arm rest inner edge; a seat portionconnected to at least the first and second sidewall side portions alongfirst and second junctures respectively, the first and second juncturesbeing substantially parallel to the upper peripheral edge of thesidewall; the first and second arm rest inner edges being spaced apartby a first horizontal distance, and the first and second junctures beingspaced by a second horizontal distance, the first horizontal distancebeing substantially less than the second horizontal distance, such thatthe first and second armrest inner edges are closer to each other thanthe first and second junctures such that a substantial space is createdfor the bather's lower body; the first armrest defining a first armresthand grip, the second armrest defining a second armrest hand grip, eachhand grip adapted to permit the grasping thereof by a bather tofacilitate the stabilization of the bather while moving into and out ofthe tub; the first armrest defining at least one orifice in a horizontalsurface thereof adapted to direct a flow of water or air upward into atleast one of a hand, a finger, and a forearm of the bather;
 2. The tubof claim 1, wherein the second armrest further defines at least oneorifice adapted to direct a flow of water or air upward onto at leastone of a hand, a finger and a forearm of the bather.
 3. The tub of claim1, further including at least one water jet connected to the firstarmrest adapted to emit a flow of water under pressure there through toprovide hydrotherapy massage to the hand of the user.
 4. The tub ofclaim 2, further including at least one water jet connected to the firstarmrest adapted to emit a flow of water under pressure there through toprovide hydrotherapy massage to the hand of the user.